UES Ghost Gun Dad Sentenced, Gets Over 3 Years Behind Bars: DA

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — A dangerous gun-manufacturing father was sentenced to three-and-a-half years of prison for manufacturing 14 guns and storing hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his Upper East Side apartment, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

The sentencing follows a guilty plea made by the amatur gunsmith, Corey Davis, 41, back in November, and largely follows the previously agreed-upon terms of three-and-a-half years in prison plus two-and-a-half years of post-release supervision, Bragg's office said.

“Cory Davis has now been sentenced to prison for manufacturing dangerous ghost guns – which he was able to do from his apartment,” said Bragg. “When someone chooses to build their own firearms, they jeopardize public safety and put their communities at risk. My office will continue to work with our federal, state and city-wide partners to crack down on the proliferation of illegal firearms and drive down shootings and homicides even further.”

Davis, 41, was caught after he sent a photo to family and friends showing his 7-year-old son holding two ghost guns, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office.

The photo was sent to a group chat with friends and family, alarming at least one recipient so much that they called the police and sent the photo to NYPD investigators.

Police discovered Davis in a separate apartment that he used as an office, finding two guns and ammunition on the ground.

On Nov. 8 2022, the NYPD executed a search warrant at Davis's primary Upper East Side apartment, finding another 12 firearms — including 10 semi-automatic pistols and two assault-style pistols, prosecutors say.

At least two of the guns were operational and loaded, prosecutors said.

In addition, investigators discovered 400 rounds of ammunition, a high-capacity magazine, and nearly two dozen other magazines, plus tools and parts to construct ghost guns.

He had been making the illegal weapons since at least mid-2020, prosecutors said.

Nearly a year later, Davis pled guilty to three counts of second degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21, but the date was postponed several times, court records show.